Little Falls, NJ – Senior first baseman
FRANK FRANCIA lofted a sacrifice fly snapping a sixth-inning tie as Montclair State posted its second straight victory with a 5-3 win over Rutgers-Newark at Yogi Berra Stadium on Thursday afternoon.
Sophomore right-hander
KEVIN RAKOWSKI-KUHLMAN retired the final four batters to earn the save as the Red Hawks (15-3-1, 4-1 NJAC) won for the 12
th time in their last 13 games. Steven Ballersni and Jesus Torres each homered for Rutgers-Newark (12-10, 1-4 NJAC).
The Scarlet Raiders took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first as Troy Longo singled to center field with two outs scoring Andy Jobe, who led off the game with a base hit. He advanced to second on a sacrifice.
Montclair State answered in its half of the first.
CHRIS BARAN was hit by a pitch with one out and scored as
CRAIG CONWAY doubled to left field. After a fly out,
FRANK LONGO singled to the gap in right-center bringing home Conway for a 2-1 Red Hawk lead.
Rutgers-Newark regained the lead in the second as Ballerini and Torres went for back-to-back homers against MSU starter
COREY HAMMAN. The Red Hawks would tie the contest in the third as it loaded the bases with two outs. Scarlet Raiders' starter Dave Chaves walked
BRIAN ELLERSON forcing home a run for a 3-3 tie.
MSU went back on top in the fifth inning. Senior designated hitter
GEORGE GALLAGHER led off with a double to left-center field. Longo moved him to third with a bunt before Francia's sac fly to center field. Montclair added another run in the sixth as
JEFF SCHRIBER tripled with one out and scored on a
DAVE WURST triple for a 6-3 advantage.
Hamman pitched into the eighth but rank into a jam as Rutgers-Newark had runners on second and third with two outs. Rakowski-Kuhlman was summoned from the bullpen and struck out Ballerini to end the inning. He would retire the side in order in the ninth, fanning the first two to earn his first save.
Hamman (3-10 allowed three runs and seven hits over his 7 2/3 innings stint. He struck out seven and walked three. Chaves struck out seven and walked two in his eight innings.
Wurst, Gallagher and Schriber had two hits apiece for the Red Hawks.
Montclair State is in action on Friday, April 7 visiting Kean University in Union, NJ at 3:30 pm.